Media Release
4 February 2004

Exodus Of Health Professionals Continues

“The exodus of health professionals from New Zealand to financially greener pastures is continuing and the Government has to act now to stop it before the shortage of health professionals reaches crisis point,” said New Zealand First health spokesperson, Barbara Stewart.

“Following the departure of our doctors to Australia we now have pharmacists being actively recruited for positions in Ireland.

“The representative of an Irish recruitment agency has been in New Zealand for the past month and so far, according to industry sources, over 40 pharmacists have expressed interest in signing initial one year contracts which can then be extended.

“This export of professionals will affect everyone but will hit rural and small town dwellers hardest as they are already having trouble retaining doctors.

“The Government must be more proactive than it has been about keeping track of the number of doctors who are leaving or we will wake up one morning and find that there are no doctors to take our children to and no pharmacists to have our prescriptions filled,” said Mrs Stewart.

ENDS

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